. An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinct. Mammals. CAM ELID^ 301. Fig. 117.—Head of Guanaco, from an animal living in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London. the Vicugna being smaller, more slender in its proportions, and having a shorter head (Fig. 116) than the Guanaco (Fig. 117). It may therefore, according to the usual view of species, be considered distinct. It lives in herds on the bleak and elevated parts of the mountain range bordering the region of perpetual snow, amidst rocks and precipices, occurring in various suitable localities throughout Peru, in the
. An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinct. Mammals. CAM ELID^ 301. Fig. 117.—Head of Guanaco, from an animal living in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London. the Vicugna being smaller, more slender in its proportions, and having a shorter head (Fig. 116) than the Guanaco (Fig. 117). It may therefore, according to the usual view of species, be considered distinct. It lives in herds on the bleak and elevated parts of the mountain range bordering the region of perpetual snow, amidst rocks and precipices, occurring in various suitable localities throughout Peru, in the southern part of Ecuador, and as far south as the middle of Bolivia. Its manners very much re- semble those of the Chamois of the European Alps; and it is as vigilant, wild, and timid. The wool is ex- tremely delicate and soft, and highly valued for the purposes of weaving, but the quantity which each animal produces is not great. The Guanaco has an extensive geographical range, from the highlands of the Andean region of Ecuador and Peru to the open plains of Patagonia, and even the wooded islands of Tierra del Fuego. It constitutes the principal food of the Patagonian Indians, and its skin is invaluable to them, as furnishing the material out of which their long robes are constructed. It is about the size of a European Red Deer, and is an elegant animal, being possessed of a long, slender, gracefully curved neck and fine legs. Dr. Cunningham,^ speaking from observation on wild animals, says :— "It is not easy to describe its general appearance, which combines some of the characters of a camel, a deer, and a goat. The body, deep at the breast but very small at the loins, is covered with long, soft, very fine hair, which on the upper parts is of a kind of fawn- colour, and beneath varies from a very pale yellow to the most beautiful snow-white. The head is provided with large ears, in general carried well back, and is covered with short grayish hair, which is darkest o
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